Cementing head



Oct. ,11, 1932. A. u. E. TRouTH 4 CEMENTING HEAD Filed Nov. 22. 195oINVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Oct. .11, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEJOHN E. TROUTH, OF OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR TO INDEPENDENT OIL`WELL CEMENTING COMPANY, OF OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, A CORPORATION OFOKLAHOMA CEMENTING HEAD Application led November 22, 1930. Serial No.497,490. l ,f

My, invention relates to cementing heads and like devices forvinjecting' material such as cement into a Well casing to seal off wateror gas strata at the bottom of the well, the

principal objects of the invention being to expedite removal ofelevators and like appliances after the well is cemented, and to providemeans for passing a plug into the casing to operate on the cementwithout requiring removal of the cementing head.

In accomplishing these and other object of the invention, I haveprovided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which isillustrated in the accompanying dra-wing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary section of an oil well and cementing headembodying the invention, showing elements in position for introducingcement to the casing.

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating parts in position for moving aplug into the casing.

iig. 3 is a section of the cementing head and plug retained thereinpending delivery of cement to the casing.

Fig. 4 is a section. through the head and plug on the line 1--.4, Fig.1.

Referring in detail to the drawing:

1 designates a casing extending in a well hole 2 into water at thebottom of the well, and including an upper portion projecting above thesurface of the ground in which the well is formed.

A cementing head comprising a hollow, preferably tubular elongated body3 of substantially the same internal diameter as the casing, has an openlower outlet end abutting the casing and secured thereto by a collar 4,and an upper end closed by an end Wall 5.

Inlet collars 6 and 7 are vpreferably provided at suitable verticallyspa-ced openings in the upper portion of the head and preferably includeportions 8 projecting into the head and having beveled inner endsforming valve seats. Valves 9 and 10, having resilient facing members11, are adapted to engage the seats to normally close the inner openingsof the collars and prevent egress of fluid therethrough from the head.The valves are suspended by links or stems 12 having angularly extendingarm portions pivotally mounted on ears 13 formed on the collar portions8 to swing upwardly outwardly away from the seats under pressure ofinlet Huid, and to be moved to closed position by gravity and pressureof 4fluid in the head.v The collar portionsv8 are suficiently long toaccommodate the L-like stems.

The collars 6 and 7 are internally threaded for receiving nipples 14carrying elbows 15 to which flexible fiow lines 16 may be removablyattached by arms 17`hinged to the flow lines and adapted to extend overthe elbows. It is desirable to employ relatively short nipples 14 inorder to prevent breakage of the nipples incident to vibration of theapparatus.

Cement or pressure medium such as water under pressure -may be deliveredthrough either iow line to the interior of the head under differentialpressure from sources not shown.

Apertures 18 are provided in the head in vertically spaced relation todefine the position of a plug 19 later described, for movement by thepressure medium into the casing. A conduit or channel 20 formedpreferably by a boss-like arcuate wall 21 fixed to the outer surface ofthe head has opposite ends communicating with the apertures 18respectively, for by-passing liuid around the plug position, attentionbeing directed to the fact that one or more of these conduits may beprovided as desired. The channel-forming member is preferably castintegral with the casing, and includes side wings or wall portions 22extending in substantially parallel relation from the casing.

A valve plate 23 having a concave inner edge 24 conforming to thecontour of the head and an outer ledge 25 -conforming to the inner faceof the curved conduit-forming wall 21, is xed to a shaft or pin havingtrunnion-like opposite ends 26 and 27 journalled in said wall portions22, at a central.

ing in the Opposite wall portion, bosses 28 l.as

-being formed on said portions to Vre-inforce the shaft bearings. l

Keyed to the protruding end of the shaft as shown in Fig. 4, is a valvehandle 29 providing for manual operation of the valve to swing the sameon an axis at right angles to the axis of the head into open position asshown in Fig. 1, or into channel-closing position as shown in Fig. 2.

` The plug 19 comprises a cylindrical body formed of any suitablematerial, preferably wood, and having slightly less diameter than thehead and/or casing to move freely therein. The plug isprovided atopposite ends thereof with cups 30 "and 31 formed preferably of leatherand having upwardly directed anges 33, the anges of the lower cup being`recessed in an annular groove 34 in the lower end portion of the plug,for sealing the space between the plug and the walls of the head, andfacilitating plunger-like action of the plug upon downward movementthereof in the casing as later described. The cups are secured to theplug by fasteners such as nails 35.

The plug is retained in position between the ends of the by-passingchannel while the valve plate 23 is in open position, and is adapted fordisplacement when the valve plate is closed. Retaining means ispreferably provided, comprising set screws 36, mounted in openings inlthe head wall, having slotted ends or other means accessible eXteriorlyof the casing for the application of a tool for threading or unthreadingthe screws from the openings, and having points 37 adapted to enter intothe plug.

In using the device, cement is delivered through either inlet collardisplacing the valve on said collar an-d owing through the channel 20past the plug into the casing. When sufiicient cement has been suppliedto effect a seal at the bottom of the well, the valve on the collar andthevalve 23 in the by-pass are closed, and the pressure medium, forexample water, is delivered through the other inlet, displacing itsrespective valve, and bearing against the plug.

Continued pressure of the stream of fluid tends to displace the plug.When the device is provided with set screws as shown, the screws arepreferably adapted to retain the plug against substantially highpressures, and are unthreaded to permit the plug to move downwardly intoand through the casing and against cement in the casing under theinfluence of pressure of the fluid.

As the plug is moved downwardly on the cement by the action of the iuidpressure thereon the cement is forced downwardly intol the casing andupwardly into the space surrounding the casing to seal said space fromthe lower end of the casing.

The eementing head thus does not require removal for introducing a plugor urging a the series of steps to effect sealing of the y stratum iscompleted, the cement and water supply lines and similar appliances maybe disconnected from the head and the head removed from the casing.

The introduction of the stream of pressure medium into the headfollowing the cementing step incidentally cleanses the head and elementscontained therein, such as the valve sea-ts and valves, of particles 0fcement.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In combination with a casing, and a plug adapted to move through thecasing, a head on the casing adapted to support the plug a plurality ofindependent fluid inlets in the head above said plug, common means forbypassing liquid from any of said inlets around the plug, and a valve insaid by-pass means.

2. A cementing head having a. plurality of fluid inlets, a plug formounting in said head below the inlets, means independent of'said inletsfor by-passing `fluid around the position of the plug, and a valve insaid by-pass means.

3. In combination with a casing, and a pplug adapted to move through thecasing, a

head above said plug, valved means for said inlets, means for by-passingeither water or cement around the plug, and a valve inthe by-pass means:

4. In combination with a casing and a plug adapted to move through theeasing, a head on the casing adapted to support the plug, a plurality offluid inlets in the head above said plug, a by-pass formed integrallywith the head for by-passing fluid from any of said inlets around theplug, and a valve in said ley-pass.

5. In combination with a, casing and a plug adapted to move through thecasing, a head on the casing adapted to support the plug, a plurality offluid inlets in the head above said plug, a normally closed hinged valveon each inlet within said head, means for bypassing fluid from any ofsaid inlets around the plug, and a valve in said by-pass means.

6. A eementing head adapted for mounting on well casin g, including atubular body having a 'lower open end and a closed upper end, andprovided intermediate its ends with a pair of ports spaced vertically todefine a plug position, said body having a plurality of inlets abovesaid ports, and means independent of said inlets and communicating withsaid ports for by-passing Huid around said plug position.

7. A cementinghead adapted for mounting on well casing including atubular body having a lower open end and a closed upper end, andprovided intermediate its ends with a pair of ports spaced vertically todefine a plug position, said body having a pluralit of inlets above saidports, an arcuate *wa fixed to the outer surface of said body and havingopposite ends communicating respectively With said ports for by-passlng'luid around said plug position, and a valve journalled in the arcuateWall for controlling said by-pass iiow.

8. In combination With a casing and a plug adapted to move through thecasing, a head on the casing adapted to support the. plug, a pluralityof fluid inlets in the head above said plug, a normally closed hingedvalve on each inlet Within said head, and means for by-passing fluidfrom any of said inlets around the plug.`v

In testimony whereof I afiX my signature.

' JOHN E. TROUTH.

